This is tragic. Many people have lost their lives after a trailer fell off a bridge along Abuja-Kaduna highway. The incident happened on Friday.
According to reports, the trailer driver lost control of the vehicle which was loaded with humans and animals as it veered off a bridge in Azara-Jere, Kagarko area of Kaduna state.
It was gathered that over four persons were killed on the spot along with some cattle as other injured victims were rushed to the hospital in critical conditions.
The governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, has offered automatic employment into the state civil service to two couples with Disabilities, Mr Ezemba Ndubueze and Comfort Ezemba (a deaf couple) and Mr Agbanu Kelechi (a visually impaired groom).
This was confirmed by the SSA to the Governor on Disability Matters, Barr. Chuks Ezewuzie when both couple visited his office to collect their wedding gifts from the Governor.
The SSA who represented the governor at the wedding of the Ezembas and the Permanent secretary of the Ministry of women and children affairs Dr. Azuka Ofomata who represented the Governor at the wedding of the Agbabus’ both presented the Governor’s wedding Gifts to the newly wedded couple who exchanged their marital vows on 27th April, 2019.
The SSA explained that the jobs being offered to them is part of the automatic employment scheme the Governor announced for person’s with Disabilities in the State.
In their votes of thanks, the couples expressed their appreciation to the Governor for honouring their wedding invitation and thanked him for his magnanimity towards persons with Disabilities.
Activist-lawyer Mr Femi Falana SAN has asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to order the Federal Government to recognise the competence of the African Court on Human and Peoples Rights to hear cases filed by Nigerians.
The suit marked, FHC/ABJ/CS/356/2019, was filed last Friday and come up for hearing on 10/5/19. The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) is listed as the sole defendant in the suit.
Falana wants the Federal Government, through the AGF, to justify why victims of human rights violations and relatives of Nigerian citizens killed in other African countries cannot challenge such violations and demand compensation in the African Court.
The lawyer averred that Nigeria is among the African nations whose citizens cannot access the court because their countries have yet to make the needed declaration accepting the continental court’s competence.
He is seeking three reliefs, as follows:
“A declaration that the failure or refusal of the Federal Government to make a declaration accepting the competence of the African Court on Human and Peoples Rights is illegal as it violates Section 1 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights Act (Cap A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
“An order directing the Federal Government to make a declaration accepting the competence of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights forthwith.”
Nigeria, which currently has a representative on the bench of the African court, is among the 30 member states of the African Union that have ratified the protocol establishing the court, which is based in Arusha, Tanzania.
But Article 34(6) of the Protocol for the establishment of the African Court on Human and Peoples Rights requires every member of the African Union to make a declaration accepting the competence of the African Court to receive cases from Non-Governmental Organisations and individuals in the countries.
Only nine member states, namely, Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote D’voire, Ghana, Gambia, Mali, Malawi, and Tanzania, have made the declaration recognising the competence of the court.
Aww! The two PDP chieftains met again at Dino Melaye’s house, but this time with other PDP members. Dino shared the photos saying Adeleke is Osun State Governor in the making. More photos...
The military yesterday announced the ban on motorcycles use in the forests of six of the seven Northwest states and Niger in Northcentral
The states are: Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, Kano, Kebbi and Kaduna.
The army warned that those caught violating the ban would be considered as bandits and kidnappers.
According to Army spokesman Col. Sagir Musa, the ban became imperative given the fact that bandits perpetrate nefarious activities with the use of motorcycles.
The parents of a teenage girl who went to Gretna Green to marry an older man were left stunned when they got a letter demanding they pay child maintenance for her.
Claire Milliner, 42, and Martin Chambers, 47, were shocked when their daughter, 16, ran off to Scotland to marry Thomas Arnold, 27, last December.
The pair met on an online dating app and travelled to Gretna Green where it is legal to get married at 16 without parental permission.
But her parents, of Cinderford, Gloucestershire, couldn't believe it when they received a letter from the Child Maintenance Service requesting they pay £3,634.84 a year towards their child's 'upkeep'.
They believe the request came from their son-in-law, who is a father himself.
Ms Milliner told The Sun: 'I couldn't believe it. She's still studying to do her GCSEs and he married her — and now has the nerve to ask for child maintenance. She's his wife!'
The mother added that she 'didn't take it seriously' when her daughter started dating an older man.
It was her first boyfriend, so she didn't see their plans to get married coming, she told the newspaper.
The letter they received asked that Mr Chambers pay £2,038.62 and Ms Milliner contribute £1,595.
Singer Skales and his girlfriend, who is by the way a singer to with stage name – Neza, are celebrating their first year of dating today. They both took to their respective instagram pages to share the same photo expressing how they feel about each other differently. Above is that of Skales and below is that of his singing girlfriend- Neza!
Adele shared a candid message about 'learning to love yourself' as she rang in her 31st birthday on Sunday, following her split from husband Simon Konecki.
Taking to her widely-followed Instagram account, the singer treated fans to a glimpse at her glitzy 1960s-inspired celebration while reflecting on her year and moving forward as a single woman.
The Someone Like You musician penned: 'This is 31...thank f****** god. 30 tried me so hard but I’m owning it and trying my hardest to lean in to it all. '
Sharing her thoughts on her past year, the Hometown Glory hitmaker explained: 'No matter how long we’re here for life is constant and complicated at times. I’ve changed drastically in the last couple years and I’m still changing and that’s okay.'
Adele, who shares her six-year-old son Angelo with ex Simon, 45, insisted she's looking forward to the future.
The Tottenham native elaborated: '31 is going to be a big ol’ year and I’m going to spend it all on myself. For the first time in a decade I’m ready to feel the world around me and look up for once.'
Further into the open post, the award-winning singer shared advice on self-worth with her social media followers.
'Be kind to yourself people we’re only human, go slow, put your phone down and laugh out loud at every opportunity', she said. 'Learning to REALLY truly love yourself is it, and I’ve only just realized that that is more than enough. I’ll learn to love you lot eventually.
'Bunch of f****** savages, 30 will be a drum n bass record to spite you. Chin up eh ❤️', she ended her honest post.
In a series of black and white images, Adele appeared to take style inspiration from the 1960s as she slipped into a heavily-fringed dress for her special day.
Upping the style ante with her retro beauty and hair look, the blonde beauty complemented her features with Twiggy-inspired eyelashes and voluminous curls.
Christine Lampard made her first public appearance with her baby Patricia as they supported her husband Frank's football win on Sunday.
The Loose Women panellist, 40, brought her little girl along to watch Frank's team Derby thrash West Bromwich Albion 3-1 at at Pride Park Stadium, in Derby on Sunday.
Beaming Christine showed off her bundle of joy, seven months old, when she headed onto the pitch to congratulate her football manager husband, also 40.
Patricia was dressed for the special occasion in a pink crocheted cardigan, matching knitted hat and a lace-edged bib.
The footballer's daughter was delighted to see Frank on the pitch and Christine passed her over to her dad following his club's win.
It has been seven months since Christine welcomed her little cherub into the world; Frank's win at Derby's home game marked Patricia's first public outing.
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged a fresh plot by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to use some elements in the police to hound and incarcerate its candidate in the 2018 Osun State governorship election, Senator Ademola Adeleke, in the bid to browbeat him to relinquish his mandate.
The PDP claimed to have new information of how the APC, having seen that there is no way it can stop Senator Adeleke at the courts, now seeks to forcefully hound him into a police station, where he will be incarcerated and put out of circulation before the determination of the matters in court.
Adeleke and the PDP are challenging the victory of the APC candidate, Governor Gboyega Oyetola, in court.
A statement yesterday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, said apart from executing the alleged script, some elements in the police have no other reason for continuously hounding Senator Adeleke, as he is already in court for the frivolous allegations preferred against him.
The statement said: “If they truly want Senator Adeleke for any new issue connected with the charges for which he is already in court, it should present such before the court instead of resorting to bullying.
“Nigerians will recall that the PDP had earlier alerted of threats to Senator Adeleke’s life. These threats have not only continued unabated but have heightened with this renewed hounding by these elements in the police, who are being used by the APC.
“Our party cautions that Nigerians are not ready to accept any excuse from anybody should Senator Adeleke suddenly becomes a victim of accidental discharge, sudden disappearance or failed health. They know whom to hold responsible.”
President Muhammadu Buhari says he will not make any comment about those who will make his next cabinet. Fielding questions from reporters after his 10-day trip to the United Kingdom, Buhari said he is ready to settle down and swear in the new cabinet.
A reporter had asked him, “What kind of people will make your next cabinet?”
He responded: “I won’t tell you.” The president also refused to respond to the question on whether he compiled a ministerial list while in London.
On the widespread crime in the country, Buhari said he noticed Mohammed Adamu, acting inspector-general of police, had lost weight, saying it is a sign that he is working hard.
Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command on Saturday arrested six suspects for allegedly bringing a truckload of poisonous cow skin, aka Ponmo, into the state.
The suspects - who were identified as Adelowo Yinka, Olawumi Onabanjo, Omowumi Wasiu, Adeshokan Taiwo, Iyabo Oluwa and Taye Kazeem - were said to have assembled the goods in a warehouse on College Road, in the Igando area of the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, in a statement on Sunday, said operatives of the command who arrested the suspects acted on information that the poisonous goods were kept in the warehouse.
He said the poisonous ponmo, the chemicals used in preserving them and a truck used in conveying the items were recovered after the warehouse was ransacked.
Elkana said, “On Saturday, May 4, 2019, around 5am, acting on the strength of information from a credible source that a truckload of cow skins, popularly called ponmo, suspected to be poisonous were heaped in a warehouse; a team of police officers, led by the Divisional Police Officer, Igando Police Station, mobilised to the scene and recovered the huge pillage of poisonous ponmo and the chemicals used for their preservation.
“One TATA truck, with number plate, AKD-375-XB, used in conveying the goods was impounded. Officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Health were contacted and after due examination, the cow skins were confirmed to be poisonous and not fit for human consumption. Six suspects were arrested in connection with the case.”
The PPRO said the state Commissioner of Police, Zubairu Mu’azu, assured Lagosians that the command was determined to protect the life and property of residents, adding that investigation was ongoing to ascertain the source and destination of the poisonous food items. They would be charged.
Operatives of the Lagos State Rapid Response Squad have arrested two suspects, Olukoya Ayodele and Victor Godwin, for allegedly peddling hard drugs in the Alausa area of the state.
The suspects were said to have been illegally running a distribution network of drugs.
Police operatives, who reportedly got a tip-off on their activities, arrested them while posing as potential buyers of the illicit drugs.
The suspects, in their confessional statements to the police, reportedly said they used to buy and sell different types of drugs, including hemp, skunk, Tramadol, Refnol, Diazal, among others, to factory workers within the vicinity.
Ayodele, who claimed to be a member of the Black Axe Confraternity, was allegedly arrested with charms.
The 26-year-old said he went into hard drugs because he was not making enough money as a conductor, adding that he made over N3.6m annually from peddling the drugs.
He said, “I use all these charms to protect myself from getting killed by rival cults. I learnt how to make charm from my father, who is an herbalist. So, it was easy for me to prepare various charms for myself and friends.
“After graduating in 2015, I came to Lagos in search of greener pastures. I first worked in a factory, but I left the work because it was too stressful. I later began to work as a conductor in the same area and added drug peddling to the job to augment my low income as a conductor.
“I make over N3.6m annually from the sale of hard drugs. I have been in the business for the past three years. The charms also helped me to transact my business and prevented me from getting caught by security operatives.”
Godwin, who owns a boutique in the area, said he sold the drugs to factory workers who used the substance to boost their energy.
The 30-year-old said, “I sell hard drugs to factory workers who use the drugs because their work is energy-sapping. I sell one capsule of Tramadol for N300, while hemp and skunk are sold for N100 respectively. The drug business is very lucrative, but I regret involving myself in it.”
The state Commissioner of Police, Zubairu Mu’azu, while urging youths to be creative, advised them to shun illegal ventures. The suspects were said to have been transferred to the narcotic section of the command for further investigations.
Massive security operations have begun to rein in criminals who seem to have seized villages, towns and cities by the throat across Nigeria, the Federal Government said yesterday.
Details of the “strategic” operations were not disclosed by the police, but they are being carried out by “the entire law enforcement and intelligence community”.
Among the massive measures are:
ban on the use of motorcycles in the Northwest states of Kano, Zamfara, Kaduna, Kebbi and Katsina where bandits have done much havoc;
relocation of Katsina State Police Commissioner Sanusi Buba to Daura in a bid to rescue the abducted District Head, Alhaji Musa Umar;
organisational restructuring in the police;
drafting of some officers who converted to general police back to special forces; and
investing more in intelligence gathering.
Alhaji Umar was abducted last week at his home in Daura, hometown of President Muhammadu Buhari. His abductors are yet to contact his family.
The police said the CP’s relocation would aid the coordination and investigation of security operations. The measures came amid a wake-up call by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on President Buhari to stop the criminals.
In a statement in Abuja yesterday by the Force spokesman, Frank Mba, a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DPC), the police said efforts were being made to subdue criminal gangs across the country.
DCP Mba said: “Currently, there are massive strategic security operations, both covert and overt missions, taking place at different parts of the country, including Katsina, aimed at subduing the criminal gangs and restoring sanity to the land.
“However, because of the covert and sensitive nature of these operations, I will not discuss them for now but Nigerians should be assured that the entire law enforcement and intelligence community in Nigeria will not rest until we win the battle against crimes and criminality in Nigeria.”
The development came as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources, Kabiru Garba Marafa, claimed yesterday alerted that more than 44,000 orphans roam the streets of Zamfara State due to eight years of armed banditry.
Marafa, who represents Zamfara Central, also claimed that sustained banditry has led to the killing of over 11,000 male adults leaving behind an estimated average of 22,000 widows at two wives per adult.
The Nigeria Police Force in Niger State has apprehended three brothers for ritual killing in the Borgu Local Government Area of the state. The suspects, Saminu Usman,25; Yusuf Usman,22; and Muhammadu Usman, 35, all of Janruwa village in the Borgu LGA were reportedly arrested by a team of policemen attached to the New Bussa division.
They were nabbed after a complaint by Yakubu Garba, the father of their victim.
It was learnt that the suspects abducted one Shehu Garba and whisked him away to an unknown location where they planned to kill him for rituals.
Northern City News gathered on Sunday that the men took their victim to a bush where they killed him and cut off one of his hands.
One of the suspects, Saminu, alleged that his eldest brother, Mohammadu, instructed them to cut off their victim’s hand for ritual to enable them to be rich.
He stated, “It was actually not our intention to kill our victim for rituals. But after killing him, we cut off his hand, which we planned to use for ritual, before we were arrested by the police.
“I don’t know what to say; but we have disappointed our parents and other family members. Imagine three brothers going to jail at the same time; we have ruined our lives.”
The command Public Relations Officer, Muhammad Abubakar, confirmed the incident, saying the suspects had confessed to the crime.Abubakar said the three brothers killed their victim for ritual purposes, adding that the matter had been charged to court.
Methodist Church Nigeria has hailed the anti-corruption crusade of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.
Speaking at the weekend at the 25th Synod of the Diocese of Lagos Mainland, held at the Hoare’s Memorial Methodist Cathedral, Yaba, Lagos, the Archbishop and Bishop of Lagos Mainland, the Most Rev. Obafemi Adeleye, said the Buhari government had done a lot to fight corruption.
He said: “The anti-corruption war of the Buhari administration is commendable with mixed feeling. It is clear to all and sundry that corruption is like a cancer in the life of Nigeria. Some of our past leaders, from the federal to the local government levels, are corrupt. The mixed feeling is that the anti-corruption crusade should not be one-sided. For the sake of posterity and integrity, President
Buhari should extend the war to his own camp and not only the opposition party.”
Archbishop Adeleye also said the worsening security situation following the increasing spate of bloodletting in some parts of the country was also of great concern.
